📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
With the name “ABARKA”, is a non-profit association under the Organic Law 1/2002 of 22 March regulating the Right of Association in Euskadi (Spain).
ABARKA
in Spain is working in two directions: Cooperation for Development in the South (Cameroon) and Integration, Sustainability and Community Involvment in Euskadi (Spain).
OUR GOALS
• Cooperation for Development: develop actions and seek funding to improve education, health, sanitation, food, entrepreneurship and comprehensive training in Africa; with special focus on women and children.
• Humanitarian Action: encourage citizen participation, cultural exchange and promote volunteerism North-North and from North to South.
• Integration and Sustainability: To advise local authorities on development cooperation and international relations, likewise, promote social and professional integration of immigrants and socially excluded groups in Euskadi.
OUR VALUES
• Principle of Equality: no discrimination on grounds of birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other condition or personal or social circumstance.
• Principle of sustainability: to generate wealth in adequate amounts, playing in different social spheres to enable population to be able to solve by their own their economic problems.
• Principle of Transparency: be readily available and directly accessible and understandable to those who have been or could be significantly affected by the organization.
• Humanitarian and Social Principle: all citizens enjoy the right to a healthy and balanced environment fit for human development and for productive activities, shall meet present needs without compromising those of future generations; and they have the duty to preserve it.
In Cameroon,
ABARKA work with WebDev Foundation, a humanitarian, apolitical, non-governmental and non-profit association whose main activities are based on the social education in ICT (Information Technology and Communication), cooperation and reciprocal solidarity. WebDev Foundation is composed by young people who share the passion to build communities in Africa in a sustainable way. WebDev Foundation undertakes alongside the Cameroonian government and other national and international organizations to contribute in the areas of health, children education and youth development to fight against underdevelopment. We are also interest about child care, human rights, women’s empowerment as well as providing assistance to discriminated and disadvantaged community groups such as people with disabilities, street children and orphans.
💼 What the programme involves
ABARKA ONGD promotes community development, social inclusion, and youth empowerment through non-formal education, cultural activities, and international cooperation. As an ESC volunteer, you will split your time between two impactful roles: 3 days/week with Oxfam Donostia’s Fair Trade Shop, supporting ethical producer groups, raising awareness on fair trade and responsible consumption, serving customers, managing shop operations, and organising outreach activities; and 2 days/week with ABARKA ONGD in Oiartzun, facilitating creative workshops, supporting Erasmus+ and ESC youth projects, creating social media content, coordinating events, and developing new community initiatives.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will stay in shared accommodation in Oiartzun (10-15 min to work, 18 min to city center). The house has Wi-Fi, heating, kitchen, washing machine, and bike access to San Sebastian (10km) and Irun (12km). A bus stop and supermarket are 15 min away. Monthly allowance: €180 for meals, €180 pocket money, €30 transport, totaling €390. Travel costs are reimbursed based on distance: €211 (100-499km), €309 (500-1,999km), €396 (2,000-2,999km), €580 (3,000-3,999km), €1,188 (4,000-7,999km).
🎒 Leisure activities
• Pre-Departure Training: Volunteers will receive training on intercultural communication, project management, and safety measures.
• On-Site Training: Workshops on non-formal education, youth engagement, social media management and digital tools used by ABARKA.
• Workshops on personal development, leadership, and teamwork.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: Project Summary:
ABARKA ONGD is a non-governmental organization dedicated to community development, social inclusion, and youth empowerment. Through non-formal education, cultural activities, and international cooperation, ABARKA aims to address societal challenges such as unemployment, discrimination, and social exclusion. The organization is committed to fostering solidarity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.
As a Youth Engagement and Workshop Facilitator, you will play a key role in supporting the organization and facilitation of activities that promote youth engagement, creativity, and inclusion within the local community.
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2. Role Description
Tasks and Responsibilities:
1. Assignment with Oxfam (3 days/week) – Fair Trade Shop
As part of Oxfam Donostia’s Citizen Fair Trade Shop team, you will:
• Support fair trade producer groups through the sale of their products.
• Inform and raise awareness about fair trade, responsible consumption, and Oxfam’s causes.
• Serve customers, sharing product stories and values.
• Manage shop operations: sales, stock reception, pricing, merchandising, window display, cash handling, cleanliness.
• Help organise awareness activities inside/outside the shop, including occasional market stalls.
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and internal communications.
2. Assignment with ABARKA (2 days/week) – Community Engagement & Workshops
At ABARKA ONGD, you will carry out a variety of activities:
• Facilitate workshops for children, youth, or community members (non-formal education, cultural exchange, creative activities).
• Support Erasmus+ and ESC youth engagement projects.
• Collaborate on social media content creation for community initiatives such as the Female Entrepreneurship Project (EGG).
• Assist in event coordination, community partnerships, and administrative tasks.
• Contribute to brainstorming and the development of new projects.
Daily Schedule:
• Work Hours: 5 hours/day (flexible schedule, Monday to Friday).
• Personal Project & Language Learning: 2 hours/day.
• Weekends: Free, with occasional weekend activities compensated by additional days off.
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3. Eligibility & Skills
Required Competencies:
• Languages: Proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Skills:
o Skills in workshop facilitation, social media, and intercultural teamwork.
o Interest in social inclusion, empowerment, and community development.
o Motivation for international solidarity and social transformation.
o Experience or interest in retail and public interaction.
o Initiative, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills.
o Knowledge of organizing free-time activities and educational workshops.
o Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
o Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
4. Learning & Development
Both assignments offer training, mentoring, and hands-on experience in community outreach, retail operations, event planning, and digital communication. You will develop strong interpersonal, organisational, and leadership skills, while directly contributing to fair trade promotion, social inclusion, and community empowerment.
Mentorship:
• Each volunteer will be assigned a mentor from ABARKA’s team to provide guidance and support throughout the project.
• Mentors will assist with personal and professional development, helping volunteers achieve their learning goals.
• Regular one-on-one meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and personal development goals.
Training:
• Pre-Departure Training: Volunteers will receive training on intercultural communication, project management, and safety measures.
• On-Site Training: Workshops on non-formal education, youth engagement, social media management and digital tools used by ABARKA.
• Workshops on personal development, leadership, and teamwork.
Personal Project Space:
• Volunteers will have the opportunity to develop and implement their own projects, focusing on topics of personal interest, aligned with ABARKA’s mission and ESC objectives.
• ABARKA will provide resources and support to help volunteers bring their ideas to life.
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5. Practical Arrangements
Accommodation:
• Volunteers will be provided with safe and comfortable shared accommodation near the project site (10-15min working). The house is rented for the project, and it is located at 15min to the city center of Oiartzun.
• Housing include modern facilities such as Wi-Fi, Electricity, water, heating, Kitchen, fridge, washing machine and access to bicycle line connecting San Sebastian (10km) and Irun (12km).
• The nearest bus stop is 10-15 minutes walking to and from the house.
• The nearest supermarket is at 10-15 minutes walking from the house.
Deadline: 31/08/2025 23:59
ℹ️ Additional information
The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project
- Health insurance during your project
- round-trip travel reimbursement
- accommodation and food
- pocket money
- language course
- Return Week-end
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (
https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.